#Sciencetheearth

Experience Science in a Cave with Bradley Lusk, PhD from #ScienceTheEarth on November 25 at 7:30PM! This presentation will be 220 ft underground in the Grotto at Grand Canyon Caverns. You will hear about ongoing science in the cave and view footage of areas that have been explored by less than a handful of people!

In 2016, a group of cave explorers started working with a microbiologist from Arizona State University to explore the microorganisms associated with unique rock formations discovered in Grand Canyon Caverns- a dry cave that was partially used as a bomb shelter during the cold war. This partnership has led to the discovery of over 900 different genera of microorganisms living in the cave. Early analysis of 1.5 million genetic sequences indicates that over 15,000 sequences have never before been identified. In addition, while collecting samples, new areas of the cave in which people have never before stepped foot were discovered, identified, and surveyed. Microbial samples were collected from these locations, but an analysis has not yet been performed.

We are asking you to ponder the possibilities of what may inhabit Grand Canyon Caverns. We have already discovered microorganisms that can breathe and eat metal, rely on photosynthesis for survival and yet can survive very long periods of dormancy without sunlight, and are potentially able to develop medically relevant compounds to treat illnesses. Dormant in the caves of northern Arizona, may be the enzyme or compound that leads to the next break-through in biotechnology, alternative energy, or medical science. We may also discover a novel species that makes our inner space explorer or astrobiologist ponder if there could be life somewhere else, perhaps in a less hospitable zone in the cosmos.

Our sense of discovery and curiosity drove us to this cave and now our collective sense of discovery and curiosity can continue to drive our search for unique life. Through our continued collaboration, we have professionals, students, and community volunteers that are eager to gather and process samples from the cave. The cave explorers are seasoned veterans and have surveyed and mapped several caves throughout Arizona. The microbiologist received his PhD in Biological Design and is an expert in the study of extremophiles; microorganisms that survive under extreme conditions. However, the operational cost associated with analyzing each sample is limiting our ability to investigate these microorganisms further. All of the donations you send will go directly towards operational costs of the equipment used to characterize the rock formations in the cave, from understanding its elemental composition to characterizing its microbial community. For each sample, there are two major analytical steps:

1. $200 per sample: Discover which microbes are present and if there are microbes which we have never before observed, characterize the elements in the cave rock, and collect high magnification images of samples (16s rDNA analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy).

2. $2,500 per sample: Discover and identify which genes are present which enables us to pinpoint specific genes that may have never before been observed on Earth (Metagenomic analysis).

We have performed step one on 14 samples and are publishing this data in an Open Access peer reviewed journal. The next part of this research requires us to perform step two for the 14 samples on which we have performed step one. In addition, samples collected from newly discovered areas of the cave need to be analyzed using steps one and two. With your donation, you will contribute directly towards understanding the microorganisms and genes present in areas of the Earth that have only been explored by less than a handful of people. Our goal is to complete sample analysis by January so that we can publish on our findings by early 2018. This is not an all or nothing proposition. Even if we do not reach our monetary goal, we can still gather useful data by performing step one on new samples as areas of the cave are discovered. Every donation counts. All data gathered will be made publicly available so that everyone will have access to the knowledge acquired from this expedition. And finally, you will contribute to major scientific discoveries on Earth land’s final frontier- places where, prior to this research, no man (or woman) has gone before!

14 samples collected from the cave on which we have performed step one. We are now looking to understand which genes are present in these samples.

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Science /ˈsīəns/verbthe act of partaking in, learning about, or teaching about the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.​"We're gonna science the Hell outta this thing!"

Bradley Lusk, PhD

I have embarked on a mission to bridge cultures through science and human discovery. For this mission, I will be visiting innovators, entrepreneurs, and game changers around the world to bring you perspective on how logic and innovation unite our planet in a quest for knowledge.

Join me as we science one individual, one community, ​one Earth at a time.